Nov 8, 2007
Joe Biden’s Pakistan Policy
In an address earlier this morning at a New Hampshire college, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, announced a fairly comprehensive Pakistan policy — the first candidate to do so.
It consists of four main elements:
- “Triple non-security aid, to $1.5 billion annually. For at least a decade. This aid would be unconditioned: it’s our pledge to the Pakistani people. Instead of funding military hardware, it would build schools, clinics, and roads.”
- “Condition security aid on performance. We should base our security aid on clear results. We’re now spending well over $1 billion annually, and it’s not clear we’re getting our money’s worth. I’d spend more if we get better returns—and less if we don’t.”
- “Help Pakistan enjoy a ‘democracy dividend.’ The first year of democratic rule should bring an additional $1 billion — above the $1.5 billion non-security aid baseline. And I would tie future non-security aid — again, above the guaranteed baseline — to Pakistan’s progress in developing democratic institutions and meeting good-governance norms. ”
- “Engage the Pakistani people, not just their rulers. This will involve everything from improved public diplomacy and educational exchanges to high impact projects that actually change people’s lives.“
His speech’s conclusion is noteworthy:
“I believe that Pakistan can be a bridge between the West and the global Islamic community. Most Pakistanis want a lasting friendship with America. They respect and admire our society. But they are mystified over what they see as our failure to live up to our ideals.
The current crisis in Pakistan is also an opportunity to start anew… to build a relationship between Pakistan and the United States upon which both our peoples can depend – and be proud.”
wow…that’s just….so RIGHT. how pathetic is it that i’m actually surprised when a presidential candidate makes perfect sense? these policies are spot-on. kudos to biden (or more likely his foreign policy team).
Excellent,
I think Mr.Biden knows what to do to curb extremism, and promote moderation and Democracy.
By supporting Musharraf, what america has gained? there is more extremism than was before musharraf in Pakistan.By handing over a handful of extremists is not the solution , we should look into the root causes, ie denial of freedom and true democracy.
If pakistani people are allowed th enjoy the fruits of true democracy, and I mean true and real democracy which they never have tasted, the extremism will be a matter of Past. Dictatorship harbours extremism and terrorism because it rules by opression and supression.
Mr. Bush has ignored this fact and I think Mr. Biden knows where the solution lies.
I was almost in tears after reading what Biden said about Pakistan.
I am a Pakistani-Canadian and truly care and feel for Pakistan’s current crisis.
Finally, an American official seems to understand the problem at hand. In that, the breading grounds for extremist thought are fertile in Pakistan because of lack of education and stronger institutions.
What’s needed is the cleansing of brains that are prone to indulge in extremism in the near future. Investment in education and autonomous institutions are they key ingredients for eliminating misconceptions in Pakistani youth and to prove American intentions sincere and trust worthy. That having done, Pakistan may very well be resemblence of Japan in muslim world for us in coming decades.
It would be a grave mistake to use blind force and hope that a nuclear armed nation of 160 millions will subside without credible threat to stability of the world. Resort to building confidence and depriving extermism to prevail, seemingly long, but might be our only hope to a successful future without creating a bigger mess…